1 . In 1823, a young woman noticed a strange fossil (化石) on a beach near Lyme Regis, England. She dug out the bones and had them carried to her home. She carefully arranged the skeleton on a table. Then she saw something extraordinary. The neck was a meter long — more than half the length of its body. It was unlike any animal living on Earth.
Even at a young age, Mary Anning had a talent for hunting “curies” fossils. In 1811, aged just 12, she made her first major discovery, a crocodile-like skull with a long skeleton. It was the first extinction animal known to science.
Fossil hunting brought in money, but it was dangerous. One day, a rock fall killed her dog and almost buried Mary. However, she still continued to look for new findings. The long-necked fossil she uncovered in 1823 was another long-dead sea reptile.
Mary was not only a skilled fossil hunter, she also carefully examined and recorded her finds. However, she didn’t get approval (认可) of other scientists. Only one of her scientific writings was published in her lifetime, in 1839. She was not allowed to join London’s Geological Society as only men could become members. She didn’t care about these. Instead, she kept moving on.
Mary died in 1847, but her contributions (贡献) have not been forgotten. Her finds are now on show in museums in London and Paris. The beach near her home is a UNESO World Heritage Site (遗址), known as Jurassic Coast. Her life continues to inspire visitors hoping to find their own fossil wonders. According to Britain’s History Museum, Mary Anning was “the greatest fossil hunter the world has ever known”. She was also a scientist who changed the way we think about life on Earth.
1. The word “curies” in Para. 2 means .| A．huge | B．beautiful | C．common | D．unusual |
| A．She won high praise from other scientists. |
| B．She published several scientific articles in her lifetime. |
| C．She had a narrow escape from a rock fall. |
| D．She was later a member of the London’s Geological Society. |
| A．To show how Southern England has the most important fossil finds in the world. |
| B．To show the readers that Jurassic Coast is in need of protection. |
| C．To give an example of how important Mary’s discoveries are to the world. |
| D．To encourage more people to find their own fossil wonders. |
| A．We shouldn’t risk our life doing things at any time. |
| B．We should still continue though others don’t support us. |
| C．We should fight for our own rights bravely when treated unfairly. |
| D．We should listen more to others’ opinions when there is disagreement. |
2 . A staycation is a vacation when you do not travel at all. Some people use a staycation to just stay at home, and others prefer to experience the attractions around them without travelling very far.
There are many choices for staycations. Any town or city has plenty of choices for things to do if you know where to look. If the weather is nice, you can visit the local gardens or forests for a hike. You can look online for several historic places and create your own history tours. Of course, you can also visit other attractions in the areas like museums, restaurants, parks, beaches and so on.
Others take the term “staycation” word for word and do not leave their houses at all. Some choices for this can include taking time off to cook a great meal and enjoy it together, or spending all day at a pool.
Just as a coin has two sides, staycation has both its advantages and risks. Since you are not travelling or staying in a hotel, a staycation can be unbelievably cheap. You are also saving by not driving very far and by not taking an airplane anywhere. Travel costs have become really expensive, so the farther you go, the more expensive it is. By staying close to home, you cut that cost by quite a bit. Finally, any stress that you feel with travel, whether that is from driving long distance or looking for an airport, will completely disappear.
1. What is the purpose of the text?| A．To introduce the general information on staycations. |
| B．To compare staycations with other vacations. |
| C．To provide different ways of staycations. |
| D．To advise people to have staycations. |
| A．usually travel to cities far away |
| B．spend all day eating and sleeping |
| C．visit famous attractions of different cities |
| D．either relax at home or travel near their homes |
| A．How to have a staycation safely. | B．Why people prefer a staycation. |
| C．What risks a staycation has. | D．When to take a staycation. |
3 . When one door closes for Li Mei, another one opens.
Born with serious
Before learning to paint in primary school, Li always felt
Painting not only helped Li
In 2016, Li
In many parks and tourist attractions in Hunan province, the couple have created lots of murals (壁画) and pavement paintings. For Li, their creations can make art more accessible (可到达的，可接近的) to
“My husband and I want to introduce painting to more people like us and help them find their own way to
| A．hearing loss | B．sight loss | C．weight loss | D．taste loss |
| A．action | B．mind | C．voice | D．appearance |
| A．lonely | B．curious | C．peaceful | D．hopeful |
| A．shy | B．weak | C．brave | D．different |
| A．Besides | B．However | C．Thus | D．Therefore |
| A．get through | B．concentrate on | C．keep up with | D．leave behind |
| A．music | B．art | C．adventure | D．sports |
| A．controlled | B．joined | C．ran | D．let |
| A．editors | B．customers | C．engineers | D．members |
| A．normal | B．abnormal | C．difficult | D．interesting |
| A．realize | B．record | C．understand | D．change |
| A．the company | B．the public | C．students | D．the disabled |
| A．deal with | B．help with | C．connect with | D．agree with |
| A．make progress | B．make a living | C．improve skills | D．overcome fears |
| A．comforted | B．pleased | C．trained | D．encouraged |
Nuseir Yassin is a Harvard graduate in economics and was once an IT expert in Venmo, earning
5 . Not only does the use of plastic water bottles hurt your wallet, but it also causes pollution, wastes energy (能源), and surprisingly wastes water. Only 23% of the plastic in America ends up in recycling bins (回收垃圾箱), meaning over $1 billion worth of plastic is treated as rubbish a year. Recently, Skipping Rocks Lab has invented a kind of water bottle called Ooho.
Ooho is designed for large outdoor events where a large number plastic bottles are used and frequently left behind as litter. It’s a kind of convenient, clear water bottle that can either be drunk or eaten. To drink it, you can either get rid of the membrane (膜) or tear (撕开) a hole in the membrane with your teeth to pour the water into your mouth. To eat it, you simply put the whole bottle in your mouth. It’s completely tasteless so you needn’t worry about any taste.
The team has been working for the past two years to develop the technology and materials (材料) that are needed to make Ooho. The price hasn’t been decided yet, but it costs about two cents to create a unit, which is cheaper than plastic bottles. The team has also been selling Ooho water bottles in London for the past six months.
Ooho is catching many people’s attention and has raised over $1 million in only three days. It’s mostly being sold at events to interest the buyers while the production machine is getting up and running. It’s quickly making a rise, so keep an eye on these bottles of the future.
1. How is most plastic in America dealt with?| A．It is thrown away as rubbish. | B．It is reused as new energy. |
| C．It is buried under the ground. | D．It is applied to new technology. |
| A．It plans to be sold at a very low price. |
| B．It has some advantages over plastic bottles. |
| C．Most people in London use Ooho instead of plastic bottles. |
| D．Suitable materials of making Ooho are hard to find. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Uninterested. | C．Positive. | D．Worried. |
| A．Scientists. | B．Experts. | C．Environmentalists. | D．The public. |
6 . Two friends have an argument over small things that breaks up their friendship forever. Such sad events happen again and again in high schools. So why aren’t students taught to deal with conflict?
First of all students need to realize that conflict can not be avoided, but it doesn’t mean the happening of violence. However, a report shows that violence often happens between teenagers because of a small insult (侮辱). For example, when one student eats a sandwich each lunchtime, it may lead to someone else’s insult, because he or she was thought to be unwilling to try new things. In turn, it can lead to violence.
Once students recognize that conflict is unavoidable, they can stay calm. Feeling calmer, he or she should choose words that will calm the other person down as well. Insulting words only add fuel to the emotional fire. On the other hand soft words can put out the fire.
After both sides have calmed down, they can apply another key strategy for conflict management: listening. Listening allows the two sides to understand each other. One person should describe his or her side, and the other person should listen.
Finally, students need to consider what they are hearing. Instead of finding out what’s wrong with the other side, they should concentrate on what the real problem is and what both sides are trying to achieve. For example, the student being insulted for a sandwich can ask themselves questions such as “What do I really want? What am I afraid of?” rather than get angry. As the real problem becomes clearer, the conflict often simply becomes smaller.
There will always be conflict in schools. Learning to manage conflicts can help students deal with friends, teachers, parents, bosses, and coworkers. In that way, conflict management is a basic life skill that should be taught in schools across the country.
1. This passage is mainly about ________.| A．the lives of school children | B．the cause of arguments in schools |
| C．how to deal with school conflicts | D．how to avoid youth conflicts |
| A．violence is more likely to happen at lunchtime |
| B．the eating habit of a student is often the cause of a fight |
| C．students tend to argue and fight easily |
| D．a small conflict can lead to violence |
| A．calm down two sides | B．help put out the fire |
| C．cause physical violence | D．cause more anger between two sides |
7 . The 71st annual Boston Marathon was held on April 19, 1967. This day was filled with freezing rain, snow and strong winds. However, for one runner named Kathrine Switzer, the weather conditions were the least of her worries. Kathrine was the first and only registered female runner in the marathon and she wanted to prove (证明) something.
The first few miles were a piece of cake for Kathrine. Then around mile four, she realized someone was going after her. She turned around and was startled to see an angry face just inches away. It was the race director (赛事总监), Jock Semple.
“Get out of my race and give me those numbers!” Jock shouted. As he said this, he caught hold of Kathrine’s arm and tried pulling her race numbers off her sweatshirt. Although Kathrine was so shocked and terrified, she struggled to break free.
Kathrine felt awful. She thought about quitting, but soon she knew that wasn’t a choice. “If I quit, nobody would ever believe that women had the ability to run 26-plus miles. If I quit, everybody would say it was a show. If I quit, it would set women’s sports back, way back, instead of forward.”
While all this thinking was going on, Kathrine continued, until she found herself nearing the finish line. Although several reporters were waiting there, none of them cheered. Kathrine completed the race in a time of 4 hours and 20 minutes. The race was over, but her determination to change was just beginning.
She played a major part in getting women officially accepted into the Boston marathon in 1972. Her effort also opened up marathon in Olympic Games for women. Her number 261 on that historic day in Boston has also become a symbol of fearlessness for millions of women worldwide.
1. What did Kathrine hope to achieve in the 71st Boston Marathon?| A．Being a registered runner. | B．Proving women’s ability in sport. |
| C．Winning the competition. | D．Proving it was a piece of cake to run 26-plus miles. |
| A．To follow her pace. | B．To defeat her in the race. |
| C．To make her quit. | D．To remind her of the rules. |
| A．Her leadership. | B．Her fame (名声). |
| C．Her popularity. | D．Her influence. |
| A．Caring. | B．Responsible. | C．Adventurous. | D．Determined. |
8 . Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in New Zealand
Nature has shaped New Zealand with the beauty of a movie set. Few places have so many natural wonders packed into such a small area. Here are the best attractions travelers can explore.
Kaikoura, South Island
Birders, wildlife and seafood enthusiasts will love the charming coasted village of Kaikoura. Between the Seaward Kaikoura Range and the Pacific Ocean, Kaikoura offers excellent coastal hikes and popular whale watching tours. In addition to whales, passengers may see fur seals, dolphins and different kinds of birds.
Queenstown, South Island
Queenstown is New Zealand’s adventure capital. Bungee jumping, jet boating, rock climbing, mountain biking and downhill skiing are just some of the exciting things to do here. In addition to the adventure sports, Queenstown offers all the comforts, with first-class hotels, spas, restaurants, galleries and shops.
Bay of Islands, North Island
A three-hour drive north of Auckland, the beautiful Bay of Islands is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country. There are more than 144 islands on the bay, making it a perfect place for sailing. Penguins, dolphins, and whales live in these fertile waters, and it is a popular sport fishing site. The old towns in the area such as Russell, Opua and Paihia are great bases for exploring this beautiful bay.
Rotorua, North Island
This is a land where the Earth speaks. Boiling mud pools, volcanic craters (火山口) and steaming thermal springs (温泉) show the forces of New Zealand’s attractive landscapes. Visitors can take a walking tour of these geothermal wonders and bathe in the springs while visiting the interesting attractions to learn about the place’s rich Maori history and culture.
1. Where can visitors experience sports with fun and risk?| A．In Kaikoura. | B．At Bay of Islands. | C．In Queenstown. | D．In Rotorua. |
| A．There are several islands there. | B．It is good choice for fishing lovers. |
| C．There are many military bases (军事基地) there. | D．It belongs to South Island of New Zealand. |
| A．Coastal hike tours. | B．Whale watching. |
| C．Different kinds of wildlife. | D．Spring bathing. |
| A．A news report. | B．A guidebook. | C．An advertisement. | D．A geography textbook. |
9 . Directed by the AFM private company, National University of Science and Technology(NUST)MISIS engineers, together with the Karfidov Lab design group, have invented a machine named Salatomat that could serve meals to users in a very short time. The engineers say this machine cooks dishes from vegetables and cereals(谷物)in 30-60 seconds, so it can produce between 150 and 500 meals per day.
The cooking machine contains 16 basic ingredients-vegetables, cereals, potatoes, noodles-and 20 dressings and toppings. With this set, Salatomat can cook up to 1, 000 different dishes, with the user able to make a personal choice of products. These dishes are especially fit for those who live a healthy lifestyle or have some health problems.
“The machine has its own ‘brain’. It can remember users’ choices and medical history. And it knows what is in it and what it can produce with the help of the RFID chip,” said Aleksey Karfidov, head of the department of technological equipment engineering at NUST MISIS.
“The process begins with the preparation of products -putting ingredients into the robot, cutting vegetables, and controlling the temperature (cooling or heating, depending on the dish),” said Aleksey Karfidov. According to the developers, the robot is able to ensure the safety of food and quick preparation of well-balanced meals. The machine will also be completely non-contact-all cooking steps are carried out by itself.
All ingredients inside Salatomat are put into clean containers. Ingredients can be stored in the containers for eight hours at most, and if not used, they must be removed and cleaned.
1. What is Salatomat designed to do?| A．Store different foods. | B．Help prepare meals. |
| C．Wash the dishes. | D．Grow vegetables. |
| A．It’s smart. | B．It’s unworkable. | C．It’s expensive. | D．It’s space-saving. |
| A．The way Salatomat works. | B．The change Salatomat brings. |
| C．The cost of buying ingredients. | D．The importance of food safety. |
| A．Clean it up after each use. |
| B．Mix everything together before it works. |
| C．Keep a close eye on its temperature. |
| D．Take out its ingredients stored over eight hours. |
Music and dance have been a huge part of Irish culture for
The most famous Irish dancing performance is undoubtedly Riverdance. This
If you are looking for something a little more casual (随意的) though, there are plenty
